attoparsec

unit, humour About 31 mm (one inch). "atto-" is the

standard SI prefix for multiplication by 10^-18. A parsec

(parallax-second) is 3.26 light-years; an attoparsec is thus

3.26 * 10^-18 light years. Thus, one attoparsec per

microfortnight is about one inch per second.

This unit is reported to be in use (though probably not very

seriously) among hackers in the UK.

[Jargon File]

(1996-12-08)